Dr. Josef Schlüsselberger

Josef Schlüsselberger graduated from Seitenstetten grammar school in 1900 and then began studying at the Faculty of Law at the University of Vienna (Dr. iur. 1905), where he joined the Norica student fraternity in 1901. After completing his studies, he entered the service of the autonomous provincial administration of Lower Austria, where he worked in the presidential office of the provincial committee from 1906 (a forerunner of the provincial government). During the First World War, he served in the Vienna Imperial-Royal Landwehr and Rifle Regiment No. 1 (last rank: Lieutenant of the Reserve).

After the war, Josef Schlüsselberger returned to work in what was now the Lower Austrian provincial government. There he became involved in representing the interests of state civil servants. From 1922 to 1932, he was a leading member of the Federation of Lower Austrian Provincial Employees and Chairman of the Association of Lower Austrian Civil Servants. In the provincial government, he first worked in the municipal department, and in 1932 he was entrusted with the department for financial affairs.

Already a lecturing Hofrat (highest civil servant class) before 1931, Josef Schlüsselberger was appointed director of the Lower Austrian provincial office in 1933. As the highest state civil servant, he is heavily involved in ongoing political affairs.

After the Anschluss in March 1938, Josef Schlüsselberger is removed from office and permanently retired on March 31, 1938. At the end of January 1939, he was dismissed without entitlement to a rain shower.

After the war, Josef Schlüsselberger was rehabilitated and - although already of retirement age - made himself available for the reconstruction of Austria. On November 28, 1945, he was appointed Vice President of the Administrative Court and on November 14, 1947, President of the Court. In this capacity, he played a key role in establishing the administrative jurisdiction after the Second World War. He held this position until December 31, 1950.